Community Healthcare Services
Rural areas of North Gujarat are exposed to many challenges related to healthcare services. Nootan General Hospital (NGH) was established in 2008 with the noble purpose of providing healthcare services at a concessional rate in the neighbourhood. Currently, NGH has been upgraded with 812 bed facilities, as an associated hospital of Nootan Medical College and Research Centre (NMCRC). The advanced machines and healthcare experts provide needed diagnosis of diseases and provide timely treatment to patients. The patients are treated by reputed super specialists in the domain of spine surgery, neuro-physician, neuro-surgery, cardiology, nephrology, urology, gastroenterology, and other specialisation. Patients are also given the benefit of various state and central government schemes. Faculty of Dental, Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Physiotherapy, and Nursing regularly organise free health check-up camps and health awareness sessions in and around Visnagar to tackle issues at hand such as nutritional disorders, lifestyle disorders, Mental health disorders, Musculoskeletal disorders, infertility, and high water fluoride related issues such as fluorosis, hair and skin disorders. Tobacco addiction is observed in the local population. In response, Narsinbhai Patel Dental College and Hospital (NPDCH) is continuously working to combat the Tobacco addiction issue. Thus, all constituent health science faculty of SPU cater to the needs of the community to provide holistic healthcare. The services also strengthen the bond between the local population and Sankalchand Patel University (SPU) and also provide real life hands-on experience to the students. NGH and Health Science faculties of SPU have made an invaluable contribution in keeping these various community oriented works accelerated and dynamic. Moreover, Continuing Education is a crucial aspect of the professional development for Doctors and other Healthcare Professionals. SPU, together with all faculty of Health Science, provides an encouraging learning environment to keep their knowledge up to date with field specific practices through continuing education seminars and workshops.
4. The PracticesThe community focused services of the SPU continuously involves the students, staff, and other healthcare professionals to offer holistic healthcare services. Here are some examples of the practice of SPU: ● Communities receive regular health check-ups, preventive health screenings, and guidance and support for managing illnesses. Provides regular free of cost OPD health services for Kamana villagers in their village itself. ● Medical services are provided free of charge in the old age home at Valam. Physiotherapy services are provided to residents of old age homes at Vadnagar, and Kada village. ● Mentally challenged 55 ‘Prabhus’ are adopted in ‘Apna Ghar Ashram’, Umta village and provided regular medical services free of cost. Physiotherapy services are provided to disabled individuals at ‘Uttar Gujarat Viklag Sangh’, Kuvasana. ● Seven villages named Denap, Kansa, Bhalak, Iasara, Khandhosan, Ralisana and Pudgam are adopted by NMCRC, and regular primary health screening and treatment camps are arranged. If anyone needs further treatment then NGH provides free of cost treatment with pickup and drop facility from their home. ● Nootan Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital (NHMCH) has provided free medical services in various camps and till date 5464 patients have benefited. Nootan Ayurvedic College and Research Centre (NACRC) is conducting Swarnaprashana sessions monthly and has benefited 29,853 children so far. ● Under the family adoption program, more than 1500 families are adopted by the Community medicine department of Nootan Medical College and Research Centre. It focuses on preventive services like vaccinations, routine health checks, and screening for conditions like high/low blood pressure and random blood sugar. ● Five schools are adopted by NPDCH. Regularly school children are screened for any Dental problems and services are provided free of cost. Approximately 600 students are made aware about their nutritional status, role of diet and exercise using various sessions by Nootan College of Nursing. ● Tobacco Cessation Centre of NPDCH offered their services of counselling etc. and helped them quit the habit. Till date far more than 2398 patients have availed the services and benefited. ● On a regular basis, all faculties of SPU health science institutes hold general health awareness sessions covering a variety of health themes and preventative care. Community members are also given Health education regarding most common health issues of the present time. ● SPU with various faculties of health science arrange free of cost Health check-up camps in north Gujarat region and people have taken benefits from these institutes. ● Continuing Education opportunity is provided to staff and Health Professionals to update their knowledge and skills in their field of expertise. More than twenty five Continuing Medical Education programmes have been organised by NMCRC, and major domains covered are Vaccinology, Tuberculosis, Autism, Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation, Advanced Imaging techniques etc. Along the same line, other Health Science faculty also organise such Continuing Education programs on a regular basis. These kinds of programs have translated into better patient services.
5. Evidence of successOver the years, SPU has added feathers in Healthcare facilities and branches that serve the population. The community healthcare services has shown success in healthcare services delivered to rural and under-served communities of North Gujarat. Over the years, more than 5,00,000 community members of all ages received health care services, and have improved overall health and well-being. ● During the challenging period of COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2021, the hospital continued to offer essential covid care services to around 11,000 OPD patients and 5,100 IPD patients, ensuring healthcare delivery in difficult times. ● The Urban Health Training Centre facility has been set up to provide various health facilities to the citizens of Visnagar, which has benefited more than 15,000 patients so far. Rural Health Training Centre has been established at Gothva village with required health facilities. ● Various facilities and treatments are available under “Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Card Scheme”. Over 17,000 patients have benefited from various government health schemes. ● Free medical services are provided to more than 400 patients in each camp at Virampur and surrounding 90 kms of tribal neighbourhood on the last Saturday of every month by doctors for the last four years. ● The ophthalmology department is accredited by District Blindness Control Society to perform free cataract surgery, under which about 160 patients have been operated for cataract surgery. ● From January 2021 to May 2024, NACRC has conducted 362 camps which benefitted 14,989 participants. ● From June 22 to May 2024, NHMCH treated 1,02,786 patients in OPD, whereas, 7041 patients benefited from IPD services of NHMCH. ● Every year, SPU conducts free medical camps for pilgrims travelling to Ambaji. Medical services are provided to them for about 10 days round the clock. More than 50,000 pilgrims have been provided medical facilities during the last eight years. 6. Problems encountered and resources required Problem Encountered: ● Initially logistic issues were faced for reaching the community and also extending hospital-based services. ● Initially it took a while for the community members to have faith in the quality of services offered at no cost. ● Difficulty in finding resource persons for the Continuing Education, considering remote location and tier- 3 category of Visnagar. ● Initially difficulties were faced in finding partners for collaboration for camps and other community service activities. Resources Required: ● Continuous operational funding for providing services and for expansion of services. ● Leaders required who can inculcate feelings of compassion and care in students for those in need. ● Dedicated students, staff and other Health Professionals. ● Planning of a completely comprehensive program for the needs of the population.
Integration of Indian Knowledge System in Education
2. Objectives of the Practice ● To promote a holistic educational approach by integrating traditional Indian wisdom with modern educational practices. ● To foster an institutional culture aligned with the core principles, Parampara and Laukika Prayojana of Indian Knowledge System (IKS). ● To enhance environmental consciousness, mental health, and social responsibility among students and staff through the understanding of ancient Indian practices. ● To introduce and inculcate ancient philosophy and concepts by offering various subjects such as Human value and ethics, History of Indian traditional art and culture etc. 3. The Context Shri Sankalchand Patel, the founder chairman of Nootan Serva Vidhyala Kelavani Mandal, planted the roots of IKS in SPU way back in the last century. By supporting and funding the establishment of the Gujarat Vishvakosh Trust in Ahmedabad, and ensuring the publication of the Gujarati Encyclopaedia in 1985. Sankalchand Patel University (SPU) aims to integrate both modern education with traditional knowledge of Ayurveda, Sanskrit, Yoga, Vedic mathematics etc. to provide students with more meaningful learning experience and to prepare them to solve challenges of the modern world. SPU also target to address issues such as Historical awareness, environmental and societal sustainability, human wellbeing etc. by the holistic approach of IKS. 4. The Practices The IKS concepts have been adopted in the curriculum as per NEP 2020 guideline through various curricular as well as in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities by SPU. Illustrative examples: ● Ayurveda: An Ancient Indian medicinal system, it is amongst the world’s oldest in the world. Nootan Ayurvedic College and Research Centre was founded by SPU to train students in Indian medicine, and to cure, and promote the health of Individuals through preventive practices. ● Curriculum design and implementation: To implement IKS, new curriculum has been designed, and implemented with 2 credit courses like Yoga and Meditation, Indian Constitution, Vedic mathematics, History of Indian traditional art and culture, Universal Human Values, Indian Theory of Emotion, Ethics and Philosophy, History of Indian Traditional Art & Culture in various programs like Bachelor of Computer Application, Bachelor of Business Administration, B. Sc. (Information and Technology), B. Sc. (Fashion Design and Management), B.Sc. (Core Sciences), B. com and B.Tech. ● Yoga and Wellness: Credit/ Non-credit Courses on Traditional Indian therapy are introduced as one of the major courses or as a value added course in programs like BAMS, BHMS, BPT/MPT, B. Tech, B. Design for promotion of physical and mental well-being. Yoga sessions are conducted on a regular basis to combat ill effects of the modern lifestyle. ● Universal Human Values and Ethics: Universal human Values aim at providing holistic vision to Life. This course is taught to students of Sankalchand Patel College of Engineering in two parts. Part one is introduced during the Orientation programme of first year students and part two in the curriculum. In academic year 2023-24, AICTE approved FDP on Universal Human Value conducted and Dr. Ela Dedhia, Ph. D Guide, Mumbai University was the AICTE approved resource person. Program helped staff to understand concepts and later to implement it for teaching learning. ● Vedic Mathematics: From academic year 2023-24, this course has been introduced to Bachelor of Computer Application, Bachelor of Business Administration, B. Sc. (Information and Technology) and B.Sc. (Core Sciences) students. The subject helps to improve analytical skill, critical skill and problem solving skills of students. ● Indian Cultural Integrity: Courses like History of Indian Traditional Art and Culture, and Surface Techniques and Embroidery are studied by B. Design and B. Sc. (Fashion Design and Management) students. Courses create awareness and understanding about great Indian heritage. Students are also orientated to India’s regional art, culture and tradition. Further, students are mandated to prepare different Indian traditional dresses and ornaments. Academic visits are conducted regularly and students explore various art making processes such as Patoda, a famous ancient sari making process by visiting artisans. ● Indian Tradition: SPU celebrates various cultural programs like two days Navratri celebration (Garba Mahotsav - Thanganat) an Indian traditional festival celebrated every year in SPU campus. Apart from this, many other Indian festivals like Krishna Janmotsav (Jamasthami), Ganesh Chaturthi etc. are celebrated with passion. Traditional rituals are performed in the campus on the occasion of new faculty or facility inauguration. Thus, IKS has been practiced through various curricular (BAMS, BHMS, B.Sc, BCA, BBA, B.Tech, iMBA, BPT/MPT), co-curricular (Study tour at various places like Modhera sun temple, Kirti Toran etc.) and extra-curricular (Dipotsav- Ram Mandir Pran-Prathista Mahotsav, Motivational spiritual session by Bhramakumaris and Swaminarayan etc.) activities conducted by SPU. 5. Evidence of success ● Yoga & Meditation has contributed to overall well-being, stress removal and increased productivity of staff and students. ● Human values and ethics foster trust and cooperation, promote social harmony and well-being. This enables individuals in making responsible choices that benefit both personal and community growth. ● MOU has been signed between SPU and BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha and implemented (Non-credit) Integrated Personality Development Course (IPDC). 6. Problems encountered and resources required Problem Encountered: ● Initial scepticism regarding the relevance of ancient Indian knowledge in modern curriculum. ● Some students find it difficult to balance core subjects with these IKS offerings. ● Finding experts and resources for promoting IKS. Resources Required: ● Collaboration with traditional knowledge keepers and yoga practitioners. ● Digital resources, such as access to ancient texts & scripture and tools for Vedic Mathematics. ● Counselling of students is needed for choosing IKS subjects along with the modern curriculum. ● Establish IKS Centre.
